It Has Been a While

Hello everyone! It has been a while since I posted last and I apologize for the lack of communication on my part. The past two weeks have been filled with homework, research papers, presentations, and other little things here and there. Usually I think that teachers plan this type of mass work load (everyone knows that is the real reason that faculty lounges exist). However, here we have three week-long breaks throughout the semester, meaning that DIS teachers have to fit in assignments where they can; therefore, my judging is temporarily suspended!

In the past two days it has snowed about 7 inches (or at least what looks like 7 inches). So, tearfully, I had to bring my winter boots back out of the depths of my closet.

Besides playing in the snow all day every day this week I also learned some more Danish culture tid-bits! So here they are:

1. The Danish health care system: Once you are a temporary resident (like me) you get a CPR card in the mail. This little yellow card is the key to your health and happiness in Denmark. Just kidding, but it does lead to an increase in your general happiness! When you get sick all you have to do is call the phone number on the card and go see your doctor (whose name is also on your card) when they have walk in hours. My doctor is one block away, and despite the speculation that it takes forever to get a doctor's appointment, I called at 8am and had an antibiotic prescription within two hours. Take that Marquette Student Health Care! There was no co-pay, but this is because Danes pay a huge medical tax. 

2. Danish libraries: That little yellow CPR card I just talked about is also your library card. Not to mention you check out your books yourself. They have these really cool nifty little machines where you put your book inside a square outline, the book is scanned, and you are free to go. Finally the library website allows you to search and READ all books from home. All you have to do is enter your CPR number and a pin code.

3. Don't talk about money: One unspoken norm here in Denmark is quite the opposite of American tradition: You don't brag about money. My teacher explained this social rule perfectly today, "You just don't talk about it, it's rude. In fact, having an extra amount of money is shameful. Last week there was an article in the paper about the life of a Danish billionaire, and the man was insistent upon remaining anonymous because it's just a shame to have all that extra money when nobody else does."

4. Dane's like ticket machines: There aren't any long queue's here, and that is because 9 out of the 10 places you have to take a number. 

5. Easter is not called Easter here. Silly mistake, I should have known!

Tomorrow evening I leave for another week! This time my trip will be a study tour with my Core Course Class (European Humanities), and we shall be stopping by Strasbourg, Verdun, and Paris. I love you all and i'll talk to you later! 

Reebs